A Georgetown man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for a drunk driving crash that killed three children and injured three others in Etobicoke last year.
Justice Kimberley Crosbie delivered the sentence in a Toronto courtroom, also imposing a 20-year driving ban. The prohibition will extend 12 years beyond his prison term, with provincial authorities to decide if he can ever regain his licence. After receiving credit for time already spent in custody and difficult jail conditions, he is expected to serve just over six years behind bars.
The case involved a crash shortly after midnight on May 18, when the then-19-year-old lost control of his vehicle while exiting Highway 401. His van crossed a median and struck a stopped minivan carrying a family. Three siblings were killed, while two adults and another child suffered injuries.
The judge emphasized the devastating and lasting impact of the crash, calling impaired driving a preventable but persistent danger. In determining the sentence, she weighed the severity of the harm against mitigating factors such as the offender’s early guilty plea, remorse, time already spent in custody, youth, and mental health challenges.
The man, now 20, had pleaded guilty to multiple counts of impaired driving causing death and bodily harm. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of eight to 10 years, while the defence argued for a term between six and eight years.